As the row over Unite’s alleged manipulation of the Labour selection process in Falkirk intensifies (Jim Murphy, one of the shadow cabinet ministers criticised by Len McCluskey in my recent interview with him, declared earlier that the union had “well and truly over-stepped the mark”), today’s Times front page reports that “Labour has seized control of 14 of its constituency parties as a result of attempts to manipulate selections and exert unfair influence.” The tense and accompanying headline (“Labour forced to step in as union takes over key seats”) suggest that, in addition to Falkirk, Ed Miliband has been forced to place other seats under “special measures” due to illegitimate union activity.
But as a Labour source told me earlier, that’s not the case at all. Twelve of the 14 seats were placed under special measures before 2005 and in just one instance (Falkirk West) was this due to concerns over Unite. As the Times finally concedes on p.4 (after eight paragraphs), “Falkirk is the only constituency on the list, which has never previously been made public, connected to union malpractice”.
Unite has made no secret of its (entirely reasonable) desire to see its members selected as Labour candidates. As McCluskey told me, “Because we’re having some success, suddenly these people are crying foul. Well I’m delighted to read it. I’m delighted when Blair and everyone else intervenes because it demonstrates that we are having an impact and an influence and we’ll continue to do so.”
The allegations surrounding Falkirk certainly deserve to be taken seriously (as they have been) but it’s important not to suggest that union campaigning is, by definition, illegitimate, a distinction the Times’s report entirely failed to make.
And here, courtesy of Labour List, are the 14 CLPS currently under special measures.
- Bethnal Green and Bow
- Poplar and Limehouse
- Brentford & Isleworth
- Ealing Southall
- Falkirk West
- Feltham & Heston
- Oldham East and Saddleworth
- Oldham West and Royton
- Birmingham Hall Green
- Birmingham Hodge Hill
- Birmingham Ladywood
- Birmingham Perry Barr
- Warley
- Slough